This measure would request the President and the Congress of the United States to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and to oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

This measure would request the President and the Congress of the United States to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and to oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

This measure would request the President and the Congress of the United States to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and to oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

This measure would request the President and the Congress of the United States to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and to oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

This measure would request the President and the Congress of the United States to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and Parenthood, and to oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

This measure would request the President and the Congress of the United States to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care provided by Planned Parenthood and oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

WHEREAS, January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the United States Supreme Courts landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition; and

WHEREAS, The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, making access to abortion safe and legal, has greatly improved the health of women and families; and

WHEREAS, Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of womens remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a womans ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and

WHEREAS, California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy; and

WHEREAS, California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of Californias largest providers of womens preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, during 4.6 million health center visits in 2013, Planned Parenthood provided services, including nearly 400,000 Pap smear tests, 500,000 breast examinations, 1.1 million pregnancy tests, 3.6 million provisions of birth control information and services, and 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted illnesses (including HIV), to approximately 2.7 million patients, almost 80 percent of whom were living with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, By providing millions of women with access to contraceptive services, public funding of Planned Parenthood helps women to avoid an estimated 516,000 unplanned pregnancies each year nationwide; and

WHEREAS, A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthoods health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians; and

WHEREAS, Violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women; and

WHEREAS, Reports have found that threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against womens health clinics have doubled since 2010, and as recently as November 27, 2015, a Planned Parenthood clinic was the target of a heinous act of domestic terrorism which resulted in the deaths of three people and nonfatal injuries to nine others; and

WHEREAS, The State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of womens reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President of the United States and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a womans fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the United States Supreme Courts landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition; and

WHEREAS, The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, making access to abortion safe and legal, has greatly improved the health of women and families; and

WHEREAS, Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of womens remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a womans ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and

WHEREAS, California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy; and

WHEREAS, California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of Californias largest providers of womens preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, during 4.6 million health center visits in 2013, Planned Parenthood provided services, including nearly 400,000 Pap smear tests, 500,000 breast examinations, 1.1 million pregnancy tests, 3.6 million provisions of birth control information and services, and 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted illnesses (including HIV), to approximately 2.7 million patients, almost 80 percent of whom were living with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, By providing millions of women with access to contraceptive services, public funding of Planned Parenthood helps women to avoid an estimated 516,000 unplanned pregnancies each year nationwide; and

WHEREAS, A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthoods health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians; and

WHEREAS, Violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women; and

WHEREAS, Reports have found that threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against womens health clinics have doubled since 2010, and as recently as November 27, 2015, a Planned Parenthood clinic was the target of a heinous act of domestic terrorism which resulted in the deaths of three people and nonfatal injuries to nine others; and

WHEREAS, The State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of womens reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President of the United States and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a womans fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the United States Supreme Courts landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition; and

WHEREAS, The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, making access to abortion safe and legal, has greatly improved the health of women and families; and

WHEREAS, Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of womens remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a womans ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and

WHEREAS, California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy; and

WHEREAS, California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of Californias largest providers of womens preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, during 4.6 million health center visits in 2013, Planned Parenthood provided services, including nearly 400,000 Pap smear tests, 500,000 breast examinations, 1.1 million pregnancy tests, 3.6 million provisions of birth control information and services, and 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted illnesses (including HIV), to approximately 2.7 million patients, almost 80 percent of whom were living with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, By providing millions of women with access to contraceptive services, public funding of Planned Parenthood helps women to avoid an estimated 516,000 unplanned pregnancies each year nationwide; and

WHEREAS, A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthoods health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians; and

WHEREAS, Violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women; and

WHEREAS, Reports have found that threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against womens health clinics have doubled since 2010, and as recently as November 27, 2015, a Planned Parenthood clinic was the target of a heinous act of domestic terrorism which resulted in the deaths of three people and nonfatal injuries to nine others; and

WHEREAS, The State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of womens reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President of the United States and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a womans fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the United States Supreme Courts landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which held acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition; and

WHEREAS, The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, making access to abortion safe and legal, has greatly improved the health of women and families; and

WHEREAS, Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of womens remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a womans ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and

WHEREAS, California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy; and

WHEREAS, California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of Californias largest providers of womens preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, during 4.6 million health center visits in 2013, Planned Parenthood provided services, including nearly 400,000 Pap smear tests, 500,000 breast examinations, 1.1 million pregnancy tests, 3.6 million provisions of birth control information and services, and 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted illnesses (including HIV), to approximately 2.7 million patients, almost 80 percent of whom were living with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, By providing millions of women with access to contraceptive services, public funding of Planned Parenthood helps women to avoid an estimated 516,000 unplanned pregnancies each year nationwide; and

WHEREAS, A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthoods health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians; and

WHEREAS, Violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women; and

WHEREAS, Reports have found that threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against womens health clinics have doubled since 2010, and as recently as November 27, 2015, a Planned Parenthood clinic was the target of a heinous act of domestic terrorism which resulted in the deaths of three people and nonfatal injuries to nine others; and

WHEREAS, The State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of womens reproductive health, and upholds each womans respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President of the United States and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a womans fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the United States Supreme Courts landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which held that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition; and

WHEREAS, The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, making access to abortion safe and legal, has greatly improved the health of women and families; and

WHEREAS, Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of womens remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a womans ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and

WHEREAS, California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy; and

WHEREAS, California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood is as one of Californias largest providers of womens preventive and reproductive health care and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which service over provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to men and women, including well-woman exams, women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, prenatal care, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services in some locations, services, and abortion services; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, during 4.6 million health center visits in 2013, Planned Parenthood provided services, including nearly 400,000 Pap smear tests, nearly 500,000 breast examinations, nearly 1.1 million pregnancy tests, nearly 3.6 million provisions of birth control information and services, and nearly 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted illnesses (including HIV), to approximately 2.7 million patients, nearly almost 80 percent of whom were living with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, By providing millions of women with access to contraceptive services, public funding of Planned Parenthood helps women to avoid an estimated 516,000 unplanned pregnancies each year nationwide; and

WHEREAS, A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthoods publicly funded clinics health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care given that because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians; and

WHEREAS, Violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women; and

WHEREAS, Reports have found that threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against womens health clinics have doubled since 2010, and as recently as November 27, 2015, a Planned Parenthood clinic was the target of a heinous act of domestic terrorism which resulted in the deaths of three people and nonfatal injuries to nine others; and

WHEREAS, The State of California stands in strong opposition to recent attacks on Planned Parenthood and other health care providers that offer reproductive health care services; support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of womens reproductive health, and upholds each womans fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President of the United States and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a womans fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood is one of Californias largest providers of womens health care and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which service over 1.6 million patient visits a year; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to men and women, including well-woman exams, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, prenatal care, sex education, primary care services in some locations, and abortion services; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, during 4.6 million health center visits in 2013, Planned Parenthood provided services, including nearly 400,000 Pap smear tests, nearly 500,000 breast examinations, nearly 1.1 million pregnancy tests, nearly 3.6 million provisions of birth control information and services, and nearly 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted illnesses (including HIV), to approximately 2.7 million patients, nearly 80 percent of whom were living with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, By providing millions of women with access to contraceptive services, public funding of Planned Parenthood helps women to avoid an estimated 516,000 unplanned pregnancies each year nationwide; and

WHEREAS, A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthoods publicly funded clinics by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care given that Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians; and

WHEREAS, The State of California stands in strong opposition to recent attacks on Planned Parenthood and other health care providers that offer reproductive health care services; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President of the United States and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care provided by Planned Parenthood and oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

 UNFINISHED BUSINESS  

Bill No: SJR 19

Author: Jackson (D), et al.

Amended: 5/23/16

Vote: 21

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 1/26/16

AYES: Jackson, Hertzberg, Leno, Monning, Wieckowski

NOES: Moorlach, Anderson

SENATE FLOOR: 25-12, 2/1/16

AYES: Allen, Beall, Block, De León, Galgiani, Glazer, Hall, Hancock, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Jackson, Lara, Leyva, Liu, McGuire, Mendoza, Mitchell, Monning, Pan, Pavley, Roth, Wieckowski, Wolk

NOES: Anderson, Bates, Berryhill, Fuller, Huff, Moorlach, Morrell, Nguyen, Nielsen, Runner, Stone, Vidak

NO VOTE RECORDED: Cannella, Gaines, Leno

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 51-22, 5/23/16 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Women’s reproductive health

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This resolution makes various findings regarding the importance of Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113, the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and women’s reproductive health. This resolution states California’s strong support of each of the aforementioned and the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy. This resolution urges the United States (U.S.) President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Assembly Amendments add coauthors.

ANALYSIS:

This resolution:

1. Makes various statements relating to the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade and women’s reproductive health, including, among other things, that:

• January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition;
• Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of women’s remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a woman’s ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and
• California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy.

1. Makes various statements relating to the importance of the services provided by Planned Parenthood to Californians, including, among other things, that:

• California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of this State’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year;
• Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and
• A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians.

1. States that violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women and would set forth statistics on the rise in threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against women’s health clinics, including a specific reference a recent attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic on November 27, 2015.
2. States that the State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of women’s reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy.
3. Urges the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Background

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113 that the constitutional right to privacy extends to a woman’s decision whether to terminate a pregnancy, while acknowledging that some state regulation was permissible. This Legislature has on numerous occasions adopted resolutions urging the President and Congress to reaffirm the intent and substance of that decision.

Starting in July of last year, Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services throughout the U.S. through a network of affiliated clinics, was prominently featured in the national news cycle after the release of controversial videos involving alleged unlawful activities by Planned Parenthood (which the organization has denied). (See e.g. Scott, Anti-Planned Parenthood Group Releases Latest Video, CNN (Aug. 25, 2015) <http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/25/ politics/planned-parenthood-eighth-full-video-stemexpress/index.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

Since then, some members of Congress have reportedly led several efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, with the most recent effort passing the U.S. Senate just last month. (See e.g. Gorman, House Republicans Pass Bill to Block Planned Parenthood Funding, Newsweek (Sept. 18, 2015) <http://www.newsweek.com/republican-leaders-trying-defund-planned-parenthood-373782 [as of Jan. 19, 2016]; see also Chang, Senate Passes Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood, Repeal Health Law, National Public Radio (Dec. 3, 2015) <http://www.npr.org/2015/12/03/458304236/senate-expected-to-pass-bill-to-defund-planned-parenthood-repeal-health-law [as of Jan. 19, 2016].) On January 8, 2016, President Obama vetoed that latest legislation and as reported by the New York Times: “While noting that federal law already prohibits funding for nearly all abortions, Mr. Obama said that eliminating funding for an organization that is a major provider of health care in the nation would ‘disproportionately impact low-income individuals.’” (Harris, Obama Vetoes Bill to Repeal Health Law and End Planned Parenthood Funding, New York Times (Jan. 8, 2016) <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/us/politics/obama-vetoes-bill-to-repeal-health-law-and-end-planned-parenthood-funding.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

Additionally, in the fall of 2015, news outlets reported that a Planned Parenthood facility in Thousand Oaks, California suffered an arson attack after a window was smashed and gasoline was splashed inside and ignited. (See e.g. Rocha and Mejia, Arson Investigation Underway at Planned Parenthood in Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles Times (Oct. 1, 2015) <http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-suspicious-fire-planned-parenthood-20151001-story.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].) Reportedly, that Thousand Oaks center provides more than 7,000 patients with a range of healthcare services each year, “over 90 [percent] of which is life-saving preventive care like cancer screenings, birth control, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treating.” (Id.) Subsequently, on November 27, 2015, according to reports, a man armed with an assault-style rifle gun opened fire at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ultimately killing three people, including a police officer and two civilians, and wounding nine others before he finally surrendered five hours later. (Turkewitz and Healy, 3 are Dead in Colorado Springs Shootout at Planned Parenthood Center, New York Times (Nov. 27, 2015) <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/28/us/colorado-planned-parenthood-shooting.html?_r=0 [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

This resolution, in recognition of the Roe v. Wade anniversary and in light of recent events involving Planned Parenthood, seeks to urge the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Comments

As stated by the author:

Since July 2015, anti-abortion activists have leveled a series of false claims against Planned Parenthood. Using heavily edited videos, extremists made accusations about practices to facilitate fetal tissue donation at a small number of Planned Parenthood affiliates. These claims have now been widely discredited and debunked.

This smear campaign has inspired efforts for congress to defund Planned Parenthood as well as the creation of a special investigative committee. Similarly, six states have faced efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and seven states have begun investigations of the women’s health provider. The agenda of these extremists is to push for legislation to prevent patients, who rely on federal funds, from accessing care at Planned Parenthood or that would ban safe and legal abortion.

California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of California’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year. [ . . . ]

A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/24/16)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

Chapter Lead of Organizing for Action Contra Costa

Citizens for Choice

Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

National Council of Jewish Women California

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project of Los Angeles County

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/24/16)

California Right to Life Committee, Inc.

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: In support, Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund writes that “[t]he ruling in Roe v. Wade cemented the right for women to control their own reproductive lives, and eliminated the need for women to receive unsafe, illegal abortion procedures. Many women who underwent these risky abortion procedures suffered serious injuries or died as a result.” Planned Parenthood also writes in support that, as reflected in this resolution, its health centers “are often the primary source of health care for California’s underserved communities. These health centers provide an array of services including well-woman exams, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infection and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, prenatal care, sex education, and primary care services, and in some locations, abortion services.”

Also in support, the Citizens for Choice echoes the importance of the Roe v. Wade decision, noting that the Court’s decision “not only saved women’s lives by preventing unsafe, illegal abortion procedures[, it] also bolstered women’s reproductive rights and access to needed reproductive and sexual health services generally.” Citizens for Choice, like other proponents of this bill, including Planned Parenthood and the National Council of Jewish Women California, further argues that no patient should ever fear harm when seeking comprehensive reproductive health care, as seen with the shooting attack on Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs last November, and the arson attack on the Thousand Oaks clinic here in California.

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: In opposition, the California Right to Life Committee, Inc. (CRLC) argues that this resolution “wraps its justification for support of Planned Parenthood around the non-abortion service areas of this ‘non profit’ corporation. Statistics are cited for continuing to provide public dollars for Planned Parenthood in recognition of its work as a primary care facility for low income women. However, one must acknowledge that most of Planned Parenthood centers are located in communities of color where these low income women live and which would appear to be for racially connected purposes. Abortion services are a major portion of Planned Parenthood reproductive services in the United States.” CRLC writes that taxpayers should “demand that no more monies go to further the horror story of the dismemberment and torture of pre-born babies by Planned Parenthood.”

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 51-22, 5/23/16

AYES: Alejo, Atkins, Baker, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Daly, Dodd, Frazier, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Lopez, Low, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Weber, Williams, Wood, Rendon

NOES: Achadjian, Bigelow, Brough, Chávez, Dahle, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Grove, Harper, Jones, Kim, Lackey, Linder, Mathis, Mayes, Melendez, Obernolte, Olsen, Steinorth, Wagner, Waldron, Wilk

NO VOTE RECORDED: Travis Allen, Arambula, Chang, Eggman, Hadley, Maienschein, Patterson

Prepared by: Ronak Daylami / JUD. / (916) 651-4113

5/25/16 13:50:33

**** END ****

SENATE THIRD READING

STR Bill Id:SJR 19

Author:(Jackson)

As Amended Ver:January 12, 2016

Majority vote

SENATE VOTE: 25-12

SUMMARY: Urges the President of the United States (U.S.) and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman's fundamental right to make her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

EXISTING STATE LAW establishes the California Reproductive Privacy Act, which prohibits the state from denying or interfering with a women's right to choose or obtain an abortion prior to viability of the fetus, or when the abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman, and makes legislative findings and declarations that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy with respect to personal reproductive decisions, and that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose and to obtain an abortion, as specified.

EXISTING FEDERAL LAW prohibits federal Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) dollars from being spent on abortion services except in extraordinary circumstances, such as when the woman's life is in danger, or in cases of rape or incest.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

COMMENTS: According to the author, this resolution reaffirms that the State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of women's reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy.

1. Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of abortion. Decided simultaneously with a companion case, Doe v. Bolton, the Court ruled seven to two that a right to privacy under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment extended to a woman's decision to have an abortion, but that right must be balanced against the state's two legitimate interests in regulating abortions: protecting prenatal life and protecting women's health. Arguing that these state interests became stronger over the course of a pregnancy, the Court resolved this balancing test by tying state regulation of abortion to the trimester of pregnancy. This Legislature has on numerous occasions adopted resolutions urging the President and Congress to reaffirm the intent and substance of that decision.
2. Planned Parenthood in the news. Starting in July of last year, Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health care services throughout the U.S. through a network of affiliated clinics, was prominently featured in the national news cycle after the release of controversial videos purporting to show that Planned Parenthood illegally sold fetal tissue for profit. Planned Parenthood has denied those accusations and several state investigations have turned up no wrongdoing on the part of the organization. In the fall of 2015, news outlets reported that a Planned Parenthood facility in Thousand Oaks, California suffered an arson attack after a window was smashed and gasoline was splashed inside and ignited. On November 27, 2015, according to reports, a man armed with an assault-style rifle gun opened fire at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ultimately killing three people, including a police officer and two civilians, and wounding nine others before he finally surrendered five hours later.
3. Medicaid funding. Ten states have taken action or recently passed legislation to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. On April 19, 2016, the Obama Administration warned officials in all 50 states that actions to end Medicaid funding of Planned Parenthood may be out of compliance with federal law. A letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is being sent to all state Medicaid offices to clarify that terminating certain providers from Medicaid is only justifiable if those providers are unable to perform covered medical services or can't bill for those services. The guidance emphasizes that states cannot target providers for impermissible reasons and are required to treat similar types of provider equitably.

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the sponsor of this resolution and states that the ruling in Roe v. Wade cemented the right for women to control their own reproductive lives and eliminated the need for women to receive unsafe, illegal abortion procedures. PPAC notes Planned Parenthood health centers play a substantial role in delivering reproductive health care services to over a million Californians each year, as well as an array of services including well-woman exams, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, prenatal care, sex education, primary care services, and in some locations, abortion services.

The California Right to Life Committee (CRLC), Inc., opposes this resolution stating that most Planned Parenthood centers are located in communities of color where low income women live and which would appear to be for racially connected purposes. CRLC contends that abortion services are a major portion of Planned Parenthood reproductive services in the United States and that 323,999 abortions were done in 2014, half of which could have been female babies. CRLC concludes that tax payers should demand that no more monies go to further the horror story of the dismemberment and torture of pre-born babies.

Analysis Prepared by: Lara Flynn / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0002871

Date of Hearing: May 3, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Jim Wood, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SJR 19

Author:(Jackson) – As Amended Ver:January 12, 2016

SENATE VOTE: 25-12

SUBJECT: Women’s reproductive health.

SUMMARY: Urges the President of the United States and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman's fundamental right to make her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Specifically, this resolution:

1. Makes various statements relating to the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade and women’s reproductive health, including, among other things, that:
   1. January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition;
   2. Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of women’s remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a woman’s ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and
      
   3. California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy.
      
2. Makes various statements relating to the importance of the services provided by Planned Parenthood to Californians, including, among other things, that:
   
   1. California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of this State’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year;
      
   2. Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and,
      
   3. A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for many Californians.

1. States that violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women and would set forth statistics on the rise in threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against women’s health clinics, including a specific reference to a recent attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic on November 27, 2015.
2. States that the State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, of women’s reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy.
3. Urges the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

EXISTING STATE LAW establishes the California Reproductive Privacy Act, which prohibits the state from denying or interfering with a women's right to choose or obtain an abortion prior to viability of the fetus, or when the abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman, and makes legislative findings and declarations that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy with respect to personal reproductive decisions, and that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose and to obtain an abortion, as specified.

EXISTING FEDERAL LAW prohibits federal Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) dollars from being spent on abortion services except in extraordinary circumstances, such as when the woman's life is in danger, or in cases of rape or incest.

FISCAL EFFECT: None.

COMMENTS:

1. PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION. According to the author, this resolution reaffirms that the State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of women’s reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy.
   
2. BACKGROUND.
   1. Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of abortion. Decided simultaneously with a companion case, Doe v. Bolton, the Court ruled seven to two that a right to privacy under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment extended to a woman's decision to have an abortion, but that right must be balanced against the state's two legitimate interests in regulating abortions: protecting prenatal life and protecting women's health. Arguing that these state interests became stronger over the course of a pregnancy, the Court resolved this balancing test by tying state regulation of abortion to the trimester of pregnancy. This Legislature has on numerous occasions adopted resolutions urging the President and Congress to reaffirm the intent and substance of that decision.
      
   2. Planned Parenthood in the news. Starting in July of last year, Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health care services throughout the U.S. through a network of affiliated clinics, was prominently featured in the national news cycle after the release of controversial videos purporting to show that Planned Parenthood illegally sold fetal tissue for profit. Planned Parenthood has denied those accusations and several state investigations have turned up no wrongdoing on the part of the organization.
      
      In the fall of 2015, news outlets reported that a Planned Parenthood facility in Thousand Oaks, California suffered an arson attack after a window was smashed and gasoline was splashed inside and ignited. On November 27, 2015, according to reports, a man armed with an assault-style rifle gun opened fire at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ultimately killing three people, including a police officer and two civilians, and wounding nine others before he finally surrendered five hours later.
      
   3. Medicaid funding. Ten states have taken action or recently passed legislation to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. On April 19, 2016, the Obama Administration warned officials in all 50 states that actions to end Medicaid funding of Planned Parenthood may be out of compliance with federal law. A letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is being sent to all state Medicaid offices to clarify that terminating certain providers from Medicaid is only justifiable if those providers are unable to perform covered medical services or can't bill for those services. The guidance emphasizes that states cannot target providers for impermissible reasons and are required to treat similar types of provider equitably.
3. SUPPORT. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the sponsor of this resolution and states that the ruling in Roe v. Wade cemented the right for women to control their own reproductive lives and eliminated the need for women to receive unsafe, illegal abortion procedures. PPAC notes Planned Parenthood health centers play a substantial role in delivering reproductive health care services to over a million Californians each year, as well as an array of services including well-woman exams, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, prenatal care, sex education, primary care services, and in some locations, abortion services.
   
   The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) states it stands firmly in support of all who utilize PPAC's health care services, and that for many low-income Americans, Planned Parenthood is their only choice; they rely on receiving the safe and nonjudgmental health care services provided by Planned Parenthood for their overall well-being and health. AFSCME concludes it will always defend the rights of women, regardless of age, income, or life choices, to have access to these services.
4. OPPOSITION. The California Right to Life Committee (CRLC), Inc., opposes this resolution stating that most Planned Parenthood centers are located in communities of color where low income women live and which would appear to be for racially connected purposes. CRLC contends that abortion services are a major portion of Planned Parenthood reproductive services in the United States and that 323,999 abortions were done in 2014, half of which could have been female babies. CRLC concludes that tax payers should demand that no more monies go to further the horror story of the dismemberment and torture of pre-born babies.
5. PREVIOUS LEGISLATION.
   1. SR 55 (Jackson) adopted by the California State Senate on June 14, 2013, made various statements relating to women’s reproductive health and the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, Inc. (2014). This measure declared the Senate’s recognition of the critical importance of a continued commitment to reproductive health care and access and urged the U.S. Senate to reconsider and approve Senate Bill 2578, referred to as the “Not My Boss’s Business Act,” which would prevent employers from denying coverage of contraceptives regardless of their religious views. SR 55 also declared that the California State Senate reaffirms the decision of Roe v. Wade (1973).
   2. SR 10 (Jackson) adopted by the California State Senate on April 8, 2013 memorialized that on the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, the California State Senate recognizes the critical importance of continued access to safe and legal abortion, and urges Congress and the President to protect and uphold the intent and substance of that decision. SR 10 also made various statements regarding the effect of Roe v. Wade on women’s ability to exercise their full rights under federal and state law.
   3. SJR 19 (Alquist, Figueroa, Kehoe) of 2005 was a similar resolution to SR 10; it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee but not set for hearing.
   4. AJR 3 (Cohn and Karnette), Resolution Chapter 83, Statutes of 2005, was almost identical to SJR 19.
   5. AJR 57 (Jackson) Resolution. Chapter 50, Statutes of 2004 was almost identical to AJR 3.
   6. AJR 2 (Jackson), Resolution Chapter 63, Statutes of 2003, was almost identical to AJR 57.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (sponsor)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo counties
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

Opposition
California Right to Life Committee, Inc.

Analysis Prepared by: Lara Flynn / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SJR 19

Author: , et al.

:

Vote: 21

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 1/26/16

AYES: Jackson, Hertzberg, Leno, Monning, Wieckowski

NOES: Moorlach, Anderson

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This resolution makes various findings regarding the importance of Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113, the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and women’s reproductive health. This resolution states California’s strong support of each of the aforementioned and the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy. This resolution urges the United States (U.S.) President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

ANALYSIS:

This resolution:

1. Makes various statements relating to the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade and women’s reproductive health, including, among other things, that:

• January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition;
• Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of women’s remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a woman’s ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and
• California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy.

1. Makes various statements relating to the importance of the services provided by Planned Parenthood to Californians, including, among other things, that:

• California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of this State’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year;
• Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and
• A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians.

1. States that violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women and would set forth statistics on the rise in threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against women’s health clinics, including a specific reference a recent attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic on November 27, 2015.
2. States that the State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of women’s reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy.
3. Urges the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Background

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113 that the constitutional right to privacy extends to a woman’s decision whether to terminate a pregnancy, while acknowledging that some state regulation was permissible. This Legislature has on numerous occasions adopted resolutions urging the President and Congress to reaffirm the intent and substance of that decision.

Starting in July of last year, Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services throughout the U.S. through a network of affiliated clinics, was prominently featured in the national news cycle after the release of controversial videos involving alleged unlawful activities by Planned Parenthood (which the organization has denied). (See e.g. Scott, Anti-Planned Parenthood Group Releases Latest Video, CNN (Aug. 25, 2015) <http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/25/ politics/planned-parenthood-eighth-full-video-stemexpress/index.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

Since then, some members of Congress have reportedly led several efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, with the most recent effort passing the U.S. Senate just last month. (See e.g. Gorman, House Republicans Pass Bill to Block Planned Parenthood Funding, Newsweek (Sept. 18, 2015) <http://www.newsweek.com/republican-leaders-trying-defund-planned-parenthood-373782 [as of Jan. 19, 2016]; see also Chang, Senate Passes Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood, Repeal Health Law, National Public Radio (Dec. 3, 2015) <http://www.npr.org/2015/12/03/458304236/senate-expected-to-pass-bill-to-defund-planned-parenthood-repeal-health-law [as of Jan. 19, 2016].) On January 8, 2016, President Obama vetoed that latest legislation and as reported by the New York Times: “While noting that federal law already prohibits funding for nearly all abortions, Mr. Obama said that eliminating funding for an organization that is a major provider of health care in the nation would ‘disproportionately impact low-income individuals.’” (Harris, Obama Vetoes Bill to Repeal Health Law and End Planned Parenthood Funding, New York Times (Jan. 8, 2016) <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/us/politics/obama-vetoes-bill-to-repeal-health-law-and-end-planned-parenthood-funding.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

Additionally, in the fall of 2015, news outlets reported that a Planned Parenthood facility in Thousand Oaks, California suffered an arson attack after a window was smashed and gasoline was splashed inside and ignited. (See e.g. Rocha and Mejia, Arson Investigation Underway at Planned Parenthood in Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles Times (Oct. 1, 2015) <http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-suspicious-fire-planned-parenthood-20151001-story.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].) Reportedly, that Thousand Oaks center provides more than 7,000 patients with a range of healthcare services each year, “over 90 [percent] of which is life-saving preventive care like cancer screenings, birth control, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treating.” (Id.) Subsequently, on November 27, 2015, according to reports, a man armed with an assault-style rifle gun opened fire at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ultimately killing three people, including a police officer and two civilians, and wounding nine others before he finally surrendered five hours later. (Turkewitz and Healy, 3 are Dead in Colorado Springs Shootout at Planned Parenthood Center, New York Times (Nov. 27, 2015) <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/28/us/colorado-planned-parenthood-shooting.html?_r=0 [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

This measure, in recognition of the Roe v. Wade anniversary and in light of recent events involving Planned Parenthood, seeks to urge the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Comments

As stated by the author:

Since July 2015, anti-abortion activists have leveled a series of false claims against Planned Parenthood. Using heavily edited videos, extremists made accusations about practices to facilitate fetal tissue donation at a small number of Planned Parenthood affiliates. These claims have now been widely discredited and debunked.

This smear campaign has inspired efforts for congress to defund Planned Parenthood as well as the creation of a special investigative committee. Similarly, six states have faced efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and seven states have begun investigations of the women’s health provider. The agenda of these extremists is to push for legislation to prevent patients, who rely on federal funds, from accessing care at Planned Parenthood or that would ban safe and legal abortion.

California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of California’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year. [ . . . ]

A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 1/27/16)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

Chapter Lead of Organizing for Action Contra Costa

Citizens for Choice

Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

National Council of Jewish Women California

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project of Los Angeles County

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund

OPPOSITION: (Verified 1/26/16)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: In support, Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund writes that “[t]he ruling in Roe v. Wade cemented the right for women to control their own reproductive lives, and eliminated the need for women to receive unsafe, illegal abortion procedures. Many women who underwent these risky abortion procedures suffered serious injuries or died as a result.” Planned Parenthood also writes in support that, as reflected in this resolution, its health centers “are often the primary source of health care for California’s underserved communities. These health centers provide an array of services including well-woman exams, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infection and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, prenatal care, sex education, and primary care services, and in some locations, abortion services.”

Also in support, the Citizens for Choice echoes the importance of the Roe v. Wade decision, noting that the Court’s decision “not only saved women’s lives by preventing unsafe, illegal abortion procedures[, it] also bolstered women’s reproductive rights and access to needed reproductive and sexual health services generally.” Citizens for Choice, like other proponents of this bill, including Planned Parenthood and the National Council of Jewish Women California, further argues that no patient should ever fear harm when seeking comprehensive reproductive health care, as seen with the shooting attack on Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs last November, and the arson attack on the Thousand Oaks clinic here in California.

Prepared by: Ronak Daylami / JUD. / (916) 651-4113

1/27/16 16:05:57

**** END ****

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SJR 19

Author: , et al.

:

Vote: 21

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 1/26/16

AYES: Jackson, Hertzberg, Leno, Monning, Wieckowski

NOES: Moorlach, Anderson

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This resolution makes various findings regarding the importance of Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113, the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and women’s reproductive health. This resolution states California’s strong support of each of the aforementioned and the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy. This resolution urges the United States (U.S.) President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

ANALYSIS:

This resolution:

1. Makes various statements relating to the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade and women’s reproductive health, including, among other things, that:

• January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition;
• Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of women’s remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a woman’s ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and
• California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy.

1. Makes various statements relating to the importance of the services provided by Planned Parenthood to Californians, including, among other things, that:

• California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of this State’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year;
• Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and
• A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians.

1. States that violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women and would set forth statistics on the rise in threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against women’s health clinics, including a specific reference a recent attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic on November 27, 2015.
2. States that the State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of women’s reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy.
3. Urges the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Background

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113 that the constitutional right to privacy extends to a woman’s decision whether to terminate a pregnancy, while acknowledging that some state regulation was permissible. This Legislature has on numerous occasions adopted resolutions urging the President and Congress to reaffirm the intent and substance of that decision.

Starting in July of last year, Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services throughout the U.S. through a network of affiliated clinics, was prominently featured in the national news cycle after the release of controversial videos involving alleged unlawful activities by Planned Parenthood (which the organization has denied). (See e.g. Scott, Anti-Planned Parenthood Group Releases Latest Video, CNN (Aug. 25, 2015) <http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/25/ politics/planned-parenthood-eighth-full-video-stemexpress/index.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

Since then, some members of Congress have reportedly led several efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, with the most recent effort passing the U.S. Senate just last month. (See e.g. Gorman, House Republicans Pass Bill to Block Planned Parenthood Funding, Newsweek (Sept. 18, 2015) <http://www.newsweek.com/republican-leaders-trying-defund-planned-parenthood-373782 [as of Jan. 19, 2016]; see also Chang, Senate Passes Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood, Repeal Health Law, National Public Radio (Dec. 3, 2015) <http://www.npr.org/2015/12/03/458304236/senate-expected-to-pass-bill-to-defund-planned-parenthood-repeal-health-law [as of Jan. 19, 2016].) On January 8, 2016, President Obama vetoed that latest legislation and as reported by the New York Times: “While noting that federal law already prohibits funding for nearly all abortions, Mr. Obama said that eliminating funding for an organization that is a major provider of health care in the nation would ‘disproportionately impact low-income individuals.’” (Harris, Obama Vetoes Bill to Repeal Health Law and End Planned Parenthood Funding, New York Times (Jan. 8, 2016) <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/us/politics/obama-vetoes-bill-to-repeal-health-law-and-end-planned-parenthood-funding.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

Additionally, in the fall of 2015, news outlets reported that a Planned Parenthood facility in Thousand Oaks, California suffered an arson attack after a window was smashed and gasoline was splashed inside and ignited. (See e.g. Rocha and Mejia, Arson Investigation Underway at Planned Parenthood in Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles Times (Oct. 1, 2015) <http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-suspicious-fire-planned-parenthood-20151001-story.html [as of Jan. 19, 2016].) Reportedly, that Thousand Oaks center provides more than 7,000 patients with a range of healthcare services each year, “over 90 [percent] of which is life-saving preventive care like cancer screenings, birth control, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treating.” (Id.) Subsequently, on November 27, 2015, according to reports, a man armed with an assault-style rifle gun opened fire at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ultimately killing three people, including a police officer and two civilians, and wounding nine others before he finally surrendered five hours later. (Turkewitz and Healy, 3 are Dead in Colorado Springs Shootout at Planned Parenthood Center, New York Times (Nov. 27, 2015) <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/28/us/colorado-planned-parenthood-shooting.html?_r=0 [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

This resolution, in recognition of the Roe v. Wade anniversary and in light of recent events involving Planned Parenthood, seeks to urge the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Comments

As stated by the author:

Since July 2015, anti-abortion activists have leveled a series of false claims against Planned Parenthood. Using heavily edited videos, extremists made accusations about practices to facilitate fetal tissue donation at a small number of Planned Parenthood affiliates. These claims have now been widely discredited and debunked.

This smear campaign has inspired efforts for congress to defund Planned Parenthood as well as the creation of a special investigative committee. Similarly, six states have faced efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and seven states have begun investigations of the women’s health provider. The agenda of these extremists is to push for legislation to prevent patients, who rely on federal funds, from accessing care at Planned Parenthood or that would ban safe and legal abortion.

California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of California’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year. [ . . . ]

A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 1/26/16)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

Citizens for Choice

Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

National Council of Jewish Women California

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project of Los Angeles County

Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund

OPPOSITION: (Verified 1/26/16)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: In support, Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund writes that “[t]he ruling in Roe v. Wade cemented the right for women to control their own reproductive lives, and eliminated the need for women to receive unsafe, illegal abortion procedures. Many women who underwent these risky abortion procedures suffered serious injuries or died as a result.” Planned Parenthood also writes in support that, as reflected in this resolution, its health centers “are often the primary source of health care for California’s underserved communities. These health centers provide an array of services including well-woman exams, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infection and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, prenatal care, sex education, and primary care services, and in some locations, abortion services.”

Also in support, the Citizens for Choice echoes the importance of the Roe v. Wade decision, noting that the Court’s decision “not only saved women’s lives by preventing unsafe, illegal abortion procedures[, it] also bolstered women’s reproductive rights and access to needed reproductive and sexual health services generally.” Citizens for Choice, like other proponents of this bill, including Planned Parenthood and the National Council of Jewish Women California, further argues that no patient should ever fear harm when seeking comprehensive reproductive health care, as seen with the shooting attack on Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs last November, and the arson attack on the Thousand Oaks clinic here in California.

Prepared by: Ronak Daylami / JUD. / (916) 651-4113

1/26/16 16:50:10

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SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Chair

2015-2016 Regular Session

Bill No: SJR 19 (Author:Jackson)

Version: January 12, 2016

Hearing Date: January 26, 2016

Fiscal: No

Urgency: No

Consultant: RD

SUBJECT

Women’s reproductive health

DESCRIPTION

This measure would make various findings regarding the importance of Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113, the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and women’s reproductive health. This measure would state California’s strong support of each of the aforementioned and the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy. This measure urges the United States (U.S.) President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

BACKGROUND

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113 that the constitutional right to privacy extends to a woman’s decision whether to terminate a pregnancy, while acknowledging that some state regulation was permissible. (See Comment 2 for more.) This Legislature has on numerous occasions adopted resolutions urging the President and Congress to reaffirm the intent and substance of that decision.

Starting in July of last year, Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services throughout the U.S. through a network of affiliated clinics, was prominently featured in the national news cycle after the release of controversial videos involving alleged unlawful activities by Planned Parenthood (which the organization has denied). (See e.g. Scott, Anti-Planned Parenthood Group Releases Latest Video, CNN (Aug. 25, 2015) <http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/25/ politics/planned-parenthood-eighth-full-video-stemexpress/index.html> [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

Since then, some members of Congress have reportedly led several efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, with the most recent effort passing the U.S. Senate just last month. (See e.g. Gorman, House Republicans Pass Bill to Block Planned Parenthood Funding, Newsweek (Sept. 18, 2015) <http://www.newsweek.com/republican-leaders-trying-defund-planned-parenthood-373782> [as of Jan. 19, 2016]; see also Chang, Senate Passes Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood, Repeal Health Law, National Public Radio (Dec. 3, 2015) <http://www.npr.org/2015/12/03/458304236/senate-expected-to-pass-bill-to-defund-planned-parenthood-repeal-health-law> [as of Jan. 19, 2016].) On January 8, 2016, President Obama vetoed that latest legislation and as reported by the New York Times: “While noting that federal law already prohibits funding for nearly all abortions, Mr. Obama said that eliminating funding for an organization that is a major provider of health care in the nation would ‘disproportionately impact low-income individuals.’” (Harris, Obama Vetoes Bill to Repeal Health Law and End Planned Parenthood Funding, New York Times (Jan. 8, 2016) <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/us/politics/obama-vetoes-bill-to-repeal-health-law-and-end-planned-parenthood-funding.html> [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

Additionally, in the fall of 2015, news outlets reported that a Planned Parenthood facility in Thousand Oaks, California suffered an arson attack after a window was smashed and gasoline was splashed inside and ignited. (See e.g. Rocha and Mejia, Arson Investigation Underway at Planned Parenthood in Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles Times (Oct. 1, 2015) <http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-suspicious-fire-planned-parenthood-20151001-story.html> [as of Jan. 19, 2016].) Reportedly, that Thousand Oaks center provides more than 7,000 patients with a range of healthcare services each year, “over 90 [percent] of which is life-saving preventive care like cancer screenings, birth control, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treating.” (Id.) Subsequently, on November 27, 2015, according to reports, a man armed with an assault-style rifle gun opened fire at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ultimately killing three people, including a police officer and two civilians, and wounding nine others before he finally surrendered five hours later. (Turkewitz and Healy, 3 are Dead in Colorado Springs Shootout at Planned Parenthood Center, New York Times (Nov. 27, 2015) <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/28/us/colorado-planned-parenthood-shooting.html?_r=0> [as of Jan. 19, 2016].)

This measure, in recognition of the Roe v. Wade anniversary and in light of recent events involving Planned Parenthood, seeks to urge the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

CHANGES TO EXISTING LAW

This measure would make various statements relating to the importance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade and women’s reproductive health, including, among other things, that:

• January 22, 2016, marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which acknowledged that every woman has a fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and decide whether to end or continue a pregnancy, and is an occasion that deserves recognition;
• Roe v. Wade has been the cornerstone of women’s remarkable strides toward equality in the past four decades, and reproductive freedom is critical to a woman’s ability to participate fully in the social, political, and economic life of the community; and
• California is committed to protecting the public health and welfare of all its residents, and recognizes that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and prenatal care, supports individuals and their families by ensuring that babies are planned, wanted, and healthy.

This measure would make various statements relating to the importance of the services provided by Planned Parenthood to Californians, including, among other things, that:

• California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of this State’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year;
• Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive health care services to women and men, which may include well-woman examinations, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, sex education, prenatal care, primary care services, and abortion services; and
• a sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians.

This measure would state that violence against abortion providers and laws that create barriers to abortion endanger the lives of both men and women and would set forth statistics on the rise in threats of harassment, intimidation, and violence against women’s health clinics, including a specific reference a recent attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic on November 27, 2015.

This measure would state that the State of California stands in strong support of Roe v. Wade and the work of Planned Parenthood, and of women’s reproductive health, and respects the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy.

This measure would urge the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

COMMENT

1. Stated need for the bill

According to the author:

Since July 2015, anti-abortion activists have leveled a series of false claims against Planned Parenthood. Using heavily edited videos, extremists made accusations about practices to facilitate fetal tissue donation at a small number of Planned Parenthood affiliates. These claims have now been widely discredited and debunked.

This smear campaign has inspired efforts for congress to defund Planned Parenthood as well as the creation of a special investigative committee. Similarly, six states have faced efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and seven states have begun investigations of the women’s health provider. The agenda of these extremists is to push for legislation to prevent patients, who rely on federal funds, from accessing care at Planned Parenthood or that would ban safe and legal abortion.

California recognizes the importance of Planned Parenthood as one of California’s largest providers of women’s preventive and reproductive health care services, operating 115 community-based health centers across the state, which provide more than 1.6 million patient visits a year. [ . . . ]

A sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood’s health centers by federal or state governments would put patients across California, particularly members of underserved communities, at a significant disadvantage relating to their general health care because Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care services for so many Californians.

In support, Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund writes that “[t]he ruling in Roe v. Wade cemented the right for women to control their own reproductive lives, and eliminated the need for women to receive unsafe, illegal abortion procedures. Many women who underwent these risky abortion procedures suffered serious injuries or died as a result.” Planned Parenthood also writes in support that, as reflected in this resolution, its health centers “are often the primary source of health care for California’s underserved communities. These health centers provide an array of services including well-woman exams, birth control, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infection and HIV, pregnancy tests, life-saving cancer screenings, prenatal care, sex education, and primary care services, and in some locations, abortion services.”

Also in support, the Citizens for Choice echoes the importance of the Roe v. Wade decision, noting that the Court’s decision “not only saved women’s lives by preventing unsafe, illegal abortion procedures[, it] also bolstered women’s reproductive rights and access to needed reproductive and sexual health services generally.” Citizens for Choice, like other proponents of this bill, including Planned Parenthood and the National Council of Jewish Women California, further argues that no patient should ever fear harm when seeking comprehensive reproductive health care, as seen with the shooting attack on Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs last November, and the arson attack on the Thousand Oaks clinic here in California.

2. Roe v. Wade

This measure would restate California’s strong support for the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, (1973) 410 U.S. 113 that the constitutional right to privacy extends to a woman’s decision whether to terminate a pregnancy, while acknowledging that some state regulation was permissible. The plaintiff in the case was “Jane Roe,” an unmarried woman who wanted to end her pregnancy under safe and clinical conditions but was unable to get a “legal” abortion in Texas because her life was not threatened by the continuation of the pregnancy. Unable to afford travel to another state to obtain an abortion, she challenged the statute making it a crime to perform an abortion unless a woman’s life was at stake. She also claimed that the Texas law abridged her right of personal privacy. The court struck down the Texas law, finding for the first time that the constitutional right to privacy is “broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.” At the same time, the high court also defined two compelling state interests that would satisfy restrictions on a woman’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy: 1) states may regulate the abortion procedure after the first trimester of pregnancy in ways necessary to promote a woman’s health; and 2) after the point of fetal viability, a state may, to protect the potential life of the fetus, prohibit abortions that are not necessary to preserve a woman’s life or health.

Roe v. Wade has been one of the most debated Supreme Court decisions, and its application and continued validity have frequently been challenged in the courts. For example, in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992) 505 U.S. 833, the Court reaffirmed Roe v. Wade, yet also permitted the state to impose restrictions on abortion as long as those restrictions do not “unduly burden” a woman’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy. That being said, this Legislature has on numerous occasions adopted resolutions urging the U.S. Congress and the President to stand firm in their resolve to uphold the intent and substance of the now 43-year old Roe v. Wade decision. Most recently, this Senate approved SR 55 (Jackson) which addressed the 2014 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014) 134 S.Ct. 2751, and declared the Senate’s recognition of the critical importance of a continued commitment to reproductive health care and access. That measure, among other things, declared that the California State Senate reaffirms the decision of Roe v. Wade.

This measure, consistent with prior resolutions, reiterates the importance of the Roe v. Wade decision, which acknowledged that reproductive choice is a fundamental right that belongs to all women. Timed with the January 22 anniversary of that 1973 decision, the measure further notes the impact that the decision has had for women’s reproductive freedom for improving the health of women and families and declares the State’s strong support of that decision and the work performed by Planned Parenthood, and of women’s reproductive health, and the principle that each woman has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy. Recognizing both the impact that any sudden defunding of Planned Parenthood would have on Californians, and particularly underserved communities, as well as the increase in threats of intimidation, harassment and violence against women’s health clinics, this measure ultimately urges the President and Congress to express their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood and a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, and to strongly oppose efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Support: Citizens for Choice; Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties; National Council of Jewish Women California; Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest; Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project of Los Angeles County; Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund

Opposition: None Known

HISTORY

Source: Author

Related Pending Legislation: HR 32 (Atkins, 2016) similarly urges the President and Congress to express support for a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, as well as their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood. HR 32 was recently adopted on the Assembly Floor on a 53-22 vote.

Prior Legislation:

SR 55 (Jackson, 2014) See Comment 2. The measure also urged the U.S. Senate to reconsider and approve SB 2578, the “Not My Boss’s Business Act,” which sought to prevent employers from denying coverage of contraceptives regardless of their religious views.

SR 10 (Jackson, 2013) memorialized that on the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the California State Senate recognizes the critical importance of continued access to safe and legal abortion, and urges the U.S. Congress and the President to protect and uphold the intent and substance of that decision. SR 10 also made various statements regarding the effect of Roe v. Wade on the ability of women to exercise their full rights under federal and state law.

SJR 19 (Alquist, Figueroa, Kehoe, Stats. 2005) was similar to SR 10; it was referred to this Committee but not set for hearing.

AJR 3 (Cohn, Karnett, Res. Ch. 83, Stats. 2005) was almost identical to SJR 19.

AJR 57 (Jackson, Res. Ch. 50, Stats. 2004) was almost identical to AJR 3.

AJR 2 (Jackson, Res. Ch. 63, Stats. 2003) was almost identical to AJR 57.

SJR 3 (Karnette, Res. Ch. 112, Stats. 2001) was a similar resolution to AJR 2.

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